Eric Striker has room to talk.

Oklahoma’s senior linebacker is one of the nation’s best at his position, earning third-team All-America honors last fall after collecting 17 tackles-for-losses and nine sacks.

But in the SEC, what he said following Tuesday’s practice in preparation for this weekend’s game at Tennessee, are considered ‘fighting words’ around these parts.

It’s important to note that Striker was a three-star prospect from Seffner, Florida. The only SEC team that offered him a scholarship was Tennessee.

Highlights from Striker’s thoughts on the SEC:

“I don’t know why people blow gas up their ass all the time. I don’t understand why.”

“I like to prove people wrong. I love that. They say this about you, say this about your opponent, the SEC has this and has that … what they don’t understand is you got to get it done between the lines. Who’s the better team when the whistle blows between the lines?”

“I hope SEC players don’t let it go to their head, because that’s how you get beat. I’m look forward it, to gas them up and bring them right back down to Earth.”

“It’s just one of those things. Let’s prove the world wrong. But it never works. The next year, it’s the same thing. I’ve been hearing it since I was in high school … SEC … SEC … SEC …”

“SEC, Big 12, Pac 10, Mac … it’s all football at the end of the day, whatever they throw at you.”